Rotary fluid meter



Sept. 1..,71936. H. F. PE'ToT ROTARY FLUID METER Filed Dec. 15, 1933 iNVENToI?.

a f77- T'y.

qualities.

" .5s points Vnwill be calculated andthe revolutions Pur-.med sept. 1, A1931s UNi'rEusTA'rEs lPNN-:NT oFFlcE u no1-Amr FLUID Mam yHenry .Francois Ptot, Montrouge, France Application December 13, 1933, Serial No. '102,192

4 In France December 213, 1932 somma. (cus-231) It is' a known fact that uid meters may be n1 un will correspondto thespeeds V1,Vz

divided into two different great classes: meters for volume -andeters for speed. A Meters for volume are operated for instance 5 by a plstonalternately sliding in a cylinder. The output of these meters isequal to the product -d thel volume generated by one displacement oi the sliding element, by the number of such alternate displacements f l0- An objection which can be made in connection with these meters resides in the fact that it is diilicult to represent a phenomenon of a hydraulic nature by the kinematic action of complicated m, which are always vsituated in the water 'or other uid to be measured and which comprise masses in analternate or oscillating motion passing through dead centres. This kind ot' apparatus requires .constant inspection and upkeep, if it is desired to maintain its metering It is thus evident that these meters are expensive. y

Meters for speed: which pertain to the second class, are more used in practice. 'I'heir operation is based upon a rotary motion, this motion being more rational than the oscillating or alternate motion. and moreover avoiding all dead centres.

In meters ior speed the number oi revolutions of the movable element, suitably adjusted by preliminary experiments, is registered by awheelwork, These experiments determine the formula connecting the speed V of the fluid with the number n of eiiectedrevolutions. Several iormul such as V=f n) represent this speed as a function f oi the number n and permit of determining the speed V corresponding to Y I. certain number n.

Bateau has proposed the formula:

V- Vvaan-HMS wherein A. B, C, are certain coeillcients depending upon the resistance which the meter opposes tothe flow ofthe liquid and oi' the friction eiiects. The last two terms are usually negligible in 'the case o! speeds situated between 0.50 m. and 1 m. per minute. Thus the curve representing rtlrie relationship ofthe speed and of the number of revolutions is represented practically by a straight line, ii the coeilicients A and B are given-any suitable values. l

It a series oi' tests are performed, anumber of Thus a certain number of equaidons such as:

Vi=A1L1+B will be established. 5

'Ihe testing operations permit nally of choosing the most probable -values of A and B, by the method of least squares for instance. or graphically -byplacing on a diagram the registered points oiAco-ordinates V1 and 1u. The formula 10 for the output: 1

(wherein Q is the output, S the' ow cross-sectional area and V the speed), may be then used. 15 but in tact, the curve V=f (n) becomes a straight line only after the uid has assumed a suitable speed.

turn. Moreover, for various reasons, the whole 30 quantity of kinetic energy of the iluid is not en- 'tirely employed by the movable element at the diiierent outputs.

Duetothesetwocauses, thecurve v=f on 35 diiiers the more from the straight line corresponding to v V=An`+B,

the lower the speed of the iiuid. In fact, the indications given by the usual meters ior speed are exact only within +3%, which is admissible 4in the case of the output reaching 20, 30,40, etc. litres per minute with water meters of usual ca- 45 pacity. v

The present invention has 'for its object a iiuid Y meter for speed, presenting no such drawbacks.

`commencing metering at a very slow speed and thus having a very small percentage of error at so slow speeds. l

This meter is remarkable in that it comprises a iixed and a rotary element, which are so arranged that the volume or space between them is nil before the starting of the apparatus and increases up to a maximum value when the output 'of the fluid increases.

According to an embodiment, the rotary ele ment consists of a male body of revolution (cone, paraboloid or the like) and is located in a female body having an analogous form, the iiow section between these two pieces being determined by the ,l the female body.

Other features will be set forth in the following description and with reference to'the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, g-iven solely by way of example: Y

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section of a meter yaccording to the invention;

nozzles; the apex of this substantially 4 5 3is -connected in any Figure 2 is a plan view of the female body of revolution;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a modification of the said meter;

Figure 4 is a cross section .of a meter according 'tothe invention provided with its registering means.

According to the example of execution represented in Figure 1, the iuid to be vmeasured enters through a conduit I having a cross-sectional area S, into a huid-tight space 2. Space 2 is closed at the top by a piece 3 the upper surface. 4 of which assumes the form of a body of revolution about the axis X-X. This surface may for example be Aa cone, a' 'paraboloid, etc. In piece 3 are formed nozzles 5. 'These nozzles v5 are so inclined as to make with the axis X-X ,an angle y, as -seen in elevation which maybe:

either lthe same or different for vthe various angle is anyhow located In-plan (Figure 2) these nozzles are tangent to the circumference of the perpendicular section into which` they open.

A male piece 8 is freely placed on surface l and has a suitable weight. The-surface 'I of piece 6 corresponds exactly to the'form of surface I. This piece t, which is somewhat floating in piece suitable way, for example in the manner further indicated, to a wheel work ofanykind. The operation is the following: as soon as the slightest flow. of fluid begins, forinstance should a cock placed on ythe downstream side be opened, piece I rises,I so as to permit the fluid of passing through the space of circular section provided between surfaces I and 1. This rise Ais obviously acat the top.

companiedby a rotation*'abimt itsl verticalaxis of piece l, this rotation beingdue to the fact that the fluid stream impacts on surface l. Vin@l tangential direction when ,iss'uing from. nozzles 5.

the'generatrices Thusthe rotary element issupported by the fluid which due to-theinclination of the delivery conduits 5 inv piece I yfoi-ins a ux Y'within'this latter element. Moreover, aslthe notary element lassum'es substantially thefform of Aa topit always is in equilibrium vupjomthe ijiux ofiiuid. The rotation cantbeacceleratedby. using small grooves I (see'li'igure') provided l and along thereof and serving l.as pmdles;

obviously,"t hese 'groovesshould not'extend as far ias the top'o'f' 'l in order to leave on theV .whole parta smooth pm may be hollow, can be the outputs, as the volume'between fixed surface 4 and movable surface I or cross-sectional area S are a function of the variable quantity V.

When writing that the output at the inlet of the meter is the same as at the outlet, one has: v

S being the cross-sectional area of conduit I and V the speed therethrough and S the cross-sectional area between surfaces 4 and 1, and V the corresponding speed of the fluid.

But, in the first equation, S is constant and V alone varies,'whilst in the second equation, S' is a function of V'.

It is evident that it becomes possible to seek in this type of meter the precise characteristics which permit of obtaining a great sensitiveness and a great exactness.

It is easy to determine the optimum angle measured between axis X-X and lower surface of rotor 6 in order to have a minimum vertical rise d of the piston. Should I be the space separating rotor 6 and stator 3 measured in a -horizontal plane, the following equation would subsist: v

d=l cot :c

This relation brings the conclusion that in the case of a given hydraulic factor, or conduit I having a given intake, it is necessary to have :i: as

large as possible.

It is also possible to determine the weight or piece 6, taking account of the thrust of the iiuid,

in order to calculate the commencing of the mereadily start as the iiuid passes through the space-v between the i'ixed and -the movable elements, without overcoming .theinertia of the movable element. Finally, the. movable element (paddle wheel) operates badly at different outputs. 'I'he jets oi' admission tothe paddles are not only of dierent forces for the same output, but. according to the speeds, these jets take variable inclina-` tions. whilst the Paddles maintain invariable directions.l

In thev meter according to the invention, on the contrary, space l increases from a zero value t0 a maximum. and, hence, no quantity of iiuid can Y passlbetween xed element I vand movable element I before the inertia of the-latter is overeome: -that is the principle of the meter for volume, but with this advantagethat body l, which toweight bythethrustofthe liquid. The-starting aftliismeterwillthusbebetterthanthatof Y the meters for volume.

perfectly equilibrated as Moreover, all friction eliminated.

Due to me fact that the axes-simmering@ its middle periphery a setV of tangential nozzles 5. the jets are adjusted soas obtain anuxof' iluid inside of piece l, vand thereby distribute the power uponl piece'l Ijand obtain a perfectly equilibrated rotaryelment.' l

A ny body of revolution canobviously'be' used as movable element 0. In Fig'ule 3 a hollow pa.-` raboloid of revolution has been shown.j The movable part thus remains perfectlyjeqllvilibrated and standardized according to the thrust4 of the fluid.- The inner surface of the hollow parabolold is' parallel to the outer surface 1. The ballast. during" the rotation of element l takes itself the-form of a paraboloid. .i 1

The outer surface 'I is provided grooves l. These grooves gradually disappear' on the upper ring-shaped part which is quite and which forms a joint between nited I .and movable surface 1. v

A hole I|-is formed at the apex of the movable paraboloid and a bearing I2 is'insei'tecltherein,r

the point of said pivot being as a' cone or sphere.

Spindle I3 of movable parabolold l is guided by a bearing i4 at the upper of the parabo-v loid. This bearing I4 is separated from the' up'- may be situated in horizontalfplanes.' andmay form any desired angle. lIt is als'o possible to locate the two conduits I and Il according .to the same vertical axis X-X.

As the male body is situated' over the inlet oriilce, it forms a valve o vreturn ilow of the uld and dispensing therefore with the use of any particular valve, which would be'adapted toV prevent deficiencies, return now and effects of -hydraulic recalls.

It permits the exact-measurement of water and other liquids, gases, illuminating gas. vapours, air, etc.

Fig. 4 shows a meter according to the invention provided with its registering means.l which may 'if which meshes be of usual type. In the present case, the space wherein these registering means are located is' separated from the space containing the iiuid by a plate 2li whenethrough passes spindle 2l transmitting its movement to the index 22 through the intermediary of gearwheels 23.

Obviously.- the invention is by no means limited to the method of execution represented and described which has beenchosen only by way of example.

Having now described my inventionwhat I claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

1. A fluid meter comprising a iuidtight casing, iiuid admission and outlet chambers therein, a stationaryA concave element between said ,chambers, provided with perforations on its bottom, having the'shape of a surface of revolution and intended to create a flux of uid inside its inner space, a rotary and axially movable convex element having an apex and the shape of a body of revolution corresponding to that of said concave element, freely located in said concave element,

and adapted to normally rest in said stationaryy element and to obturate the perforations therein and thereby the fluid passage therethrough, and

registering means connected with said element andnresponsive to the rotation thereof, said rotary l*element ,while remaining in equilibrium being '5. lifted, rotated and supported by ,the flux of fluid produced 4inside of said concave element, when ,iluid is admitted into the meter.

.2. A fluidmeter according to'claim 1 wherein lthe direction of the perforations of the stationary element is ltangential with respect to the oute surface of the movable element,

'8. A fluid meter as claimed in claim l wherein said stationary element consists of a female piece having substantially the shape of a cone of revolution and the rotary element consists of a male piece of corresponding shape adapted to iit within said female piece. f o

[4."A'iiuid meter as claimed-in claim 1, wherein `said stationary element consists of a female piece "having a substantially paraboloidal shape and the rotary element consists of a male piece of corresponding shape adapted to fit within said female niece..

" HENRY FRANoIs P'ro'r. 

